Value of a Human Life in TX: Apparently Less Than $150.00

[NanuqoftheNorth 8,902]

Texas Man, Ezekiel Gilbert, Acquitted For Killing Craigslist Escort Lenora Ivie Frago

 

 

A Texas jury has acquitted a man of murder in the death of a prostitute on the grounds that he was entitled to shoot her because she had “stolen” his property by taking his money but not having sex with him. The jury accepted Ezekiel Gilbert's claim that he was only trying to retrieve his money when he shot 23-year-old Lenora Ivie Frago -- an escort who he met on Craigslist -- in the neck on Dec. 24, 2009, and hadn’t meant to kill her.

 

According to the San Antonio Express-News, the altercation began on Christmas Eve when Frago arrived at Gilbert's home, accepted $150 from him for what he believed was payment for sex, and then left. In court, Gilbert testified that Frago spent 20 minutes inside his apartment before she left, telling him that she needed to pay her driver.

 

Frago was paralyzed by Gilbert's gunshot wound, and died seven months later. Defense attorneys Bobby Barrera and Roy Barrera Sr. claimed that Frago's "driver" had been her pimp, and argued that under Texas law Gilbert had been within his rights to use deadly force to recover his stolen property.

 

The Texas law allows citizens to use such force to “retrieve stolen property at night” or to hinder a burglar from escaping the scene of a crime during the night, as long as the person “reasonably” thinks that they have no other means of protecting their property, Think Progress reported.

 

“I sincerely regret the loss of the life of Ms. Frago,” Gilbert said Wednesday. “I've been in a mental prison the past four years of my life. I have nightmares. If I see guns on TV where people are getting killed, I change the channel.”

 

Prosecutors argued that the act of solicitation undercut the defense’s claim, telling jurors that the Texas statute was intended for “law-abiding citizens,” not for those trying to force others into prostitution. After hearing the not-guilty verdict, Gilbert reportedly broke down into tears and hugged both of his attorneys. He told reporters outside the court that he thanked God, the Barreras and the jurors for their ability to “see what wasn’t the truth,” and to give him a “second chance.”

 

http://www.ibtimes.com/texas-man-ezekiel-gilbert-acquitted-killing-craigslist-escort-lenora-ivie-frago-1295593

[mav1234 3,230]

wow.

[Floppin 5,800]

fuging Texas. That's right guys, if someone takes your lawn gnome and you don't think you have any other alternative to getting it back (how do you fuging prove otherwise?) you can just shoot that bastard in the head and take your fuging lawn ornament back. Huzzah!

[Jase 12,844]

Who among us hasn't killed a hooker or two?

[NanuqoftheNorth 8,902]

fuging Texas. That's right guys, if someone takes your lawn gnome and you don't think you can any other alternative to getting it back (how do you fuging prove otherwise?) you can just shoot that bastard in the head and take your fuging lawn ornament back. Huzzah!

 

To be fair to Texas, you might get into trouble for killing someone if you lawn gnome was worth less than 150.00.  Just saying.

[Floppin 5,800]

To be fair to Texas, you might get into trouble for killing someone if you lawn gnome was worth less than 150.00.  Just saying.

 

I have some pretty high class lawn ornaments. 

[Chimera 3,584]

I have some pretty high class lawn ornaments.

Alicejandro?

[Gazi 4,398]

I'm amazed that I never read a story of a father of one of those victims getting justice the old fashion way. If my child was murdered or raped and the killer/rapist just walked away he would have wished he was convicted 

 

Am I alone in this?

[Gazi 4,398]

Texas ***** are proud of these laws no matter the race or their background. 

[GOOGLE JIM BOB COOTER 7,211]

come on now he's just a good ol boy who made a mistake. haven't we all made mistakes? boys will be boys

 

“I've been in a mental prison the past four years of my life. I have nightmares. If I see guns on TV where people are getting killed, I change the channel.”

 

now this dude can't even jerk it to war porn without being reminded of the time he brutally murdered a woman who had refused to have sex with him. time served if you ask me

[GOOGLE JIM BOB COOTER 7,211]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/23/trayvon-martin-other-stand-your-ground-cases-from-florida-to-north-carolina.html

 

Francisco Anguiano
July 2007
Texas

Jose Luis Gonzalez of Webb County told police he was asleep in his shed when he heard his nearby trailer being broken into. It wasn’t the first time Gonzalez had dealt with a break-in. Turned out the intruders were four boys on the prowl for snacks, including Francisco Anguiano, 13. Gonzalez fatally shot Anguiano. “It was a case where it was my life or theirs,” Gonzalez said after he was acquitted of murder. Attorneys agreed that Gonzalez forced the unarmed boys to their knees, and shot Anguiano in the back with a shotgun—Gonazalez said he thought Anguiano had lunged at him. One of the boys testified that Gonzalez had them remove Anguiano’s body. Twinkies and cookies were found in Anguiano’s pockets.

 

texas making a strong case for worst state in the US

[Goondal 2,533]

Looks like I will be avoiding Texas on my next cross country, petty crime spree.

[dos poptarts 694]

Topic title has it backwards.....

Maybe the hooker should have asked herself if a garden gnome is worth getting shot at and risking your life.

[stirs 7,291]

At first glance, it is a major tragedy.

If you put it somewhat in perspective, which is what I am sure the jury did, then you can begin to see both sides.

If a Dominoes delivery guy stepped in your home and instead of taking the $20 bucks, grabbed your entire wallet and ran off, what would you do? I know, call Dominoes and complain, but you get my point.

A supposed painter who is there to give you an estimate, grabs your jewelry box and takes off, etc, etc.

Is there a place where you stop them? Is it robbery? Just opening up the conversation a bit.

I know, Stirs wants to kill everybody and starve kids. Can't wait for the usuals.

[Floppin 5,800]

At first glance, it is a major tragedy.

If you put it somewhat in perspective, which is what I am sure the jury did, then you can begin to see both sides.

If a Dominoes delivery guy stepped in your home and instead of taking the $20 bucks, grabbed your entire wallet and ran off, what would you do? I know, call Dominoes and complain, but you get my point.

A supposed painter who is there to give you an estimate, grabs your jewelry box and takes off, etc, etc.

Is there a place where you stop them? Is it robbery? Just opening up the conversation a bit.

I know, Stirs wants to kill everybody and starve kids. Can't wait for the usuals.

Just so we are clear. You're able to justify killing someone in order to get your trivial property back?